The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1887-04-09
by the Waves.

by the Waves.
sAnd why we named her Muriel is a
mystery to me, said good Mrs. Doyle,
folding up her mending. MARY Jane
or Hannah Maria would have been jest
as good and sight more suitable; but
l read novels when I was young, and
see that name somewhere, and it kinder
pleased me-so l must 60 and call her
Muriel.
And, indeed, Muriel Doyle was little
like her sweet, ethereal name. A strong,
1.-THE, healthy isherman's daughter with
brown eyes, brown hair, brown cheeks,
brown hands; hands that could WELD
an oar and trim sail as we'll as hel
fathers own. A veritable child of ma
ture, wild and free as the place she loved
so we'll; and yet, not ignorant and un.
cultured. Muriel Doyle was well versed
in the lore Of books, and nature had
given her the ease and grace and dignity
that others get by culture.
my sea bird!' her father called her,
and the name was like the wild, glad
young thing. When they could no,
find Fer about the house, they sought
her by the sea, and they always found
her, strolling idly down the beach, sit
ting among the rocks, and watching the
waves with dreamy eyes, chasing the
surges like a child. She was child in
guileless innocence and freedom from
art; but in maturity of brain and hear,
she was woman at seventeen.
Half mile from the cottage of the
Doyles, a grand new hotel was being
built !; another season would see theil
quiet home turned into seaside resort,
and Muriel was not pleased at the thought
of the coming change. She loved hel
wild rocks and lonely beach as they
were, and she did not want to see them
changed to fashionable promenades'
But Muriel's dissatisfaction could moi
change the aspect of affairs; she knew
that the fashionables were surely coming.
She was thinking, rather sorrowfully
and perhaps little unamiably, of that.
as she wandered down the sands one
day, thinking how she was soon to be
driven from her favorite haunts, and q
bright fame came into her eyes and
cheeks, and she stamped her foot upon
the sand, exclaiming aloud:
'They shall not drive me away!
will not exile myself from the sea be-
cause they come!' And then she stop
ped suddenly and caught her breath
for turning round jagged point ol
rocks, Muriel was upon the vanguard O.
the invaders.
Two young men-one of them com
monplace, handsomish young fellow
sat upon stone, and held portfolio
upon his knee-a sketcher. The othel
stood leaning against rock beside him
and looking down indiferently upon the
half-finished sketch on his companion
knee. A tall, grave man oftwenty-seven
with magnificent head from which ht
had removed his hat; dark, half-curline
short hair, eyes blue, and dark and
splendid; face that was perfect il
beauty, and a commanding, stately
figure, half-covered by loose cloak
flung over one shoulder. A very hand
some man, but grave to sadness; mar
who had suffered, and not lightly.
Muriel hesitated whether to 60 bach
or pass them; then a proud impulse
bade her to 60 on. Both looked up a.
her light step crossed the sands, ane
both bowed as she slightly glanced a
them. They were gentlemen. She in
clined her head little as she passed.
The next moment she heard the
Younger of the two whisper:
'What a striking face I wonder i
she would let me sketch her !
Hush She will hear you, warned
the other; and Muriel, turning, saw th'
half-contemptuous curl of his lip.
Il have heard, she said quietly, com
ing back. 'You may sketch my face i
you choose.
MAY 1? A thousand thanks.
None at all, if you please, returned
Muriel, composedly seating herself, ane
drawing her shawl about her. Il an
curious to see picture of myself. Shal
l take off my hat?'
IF you will be so good; and Murie
lifted the broad hat from her sunny
brown curls, and quietly proceeded te
sit for her portrait.
The young man sketched busily away
making no effort to conceal his admira
tion of his Subject an admiration tc
which Muriel was quite Indifferent
Meanwhile the second gentleman, who
had not spoken, stood silently studying
the face that his companion had sketched
1t was we'll worth study; no ordinary
face, though not wonderfully beautiful
The brown eyes, and graceful features
and smiling, red lips were pretty and
attractive, but there was certain power
and attraction in Muriel's face which il
did not owe to its prettiness, which
would have been there still had she
grown plain.
1t was an expression not easily trans
ferred to paper, and the tall gentleman
looked somewhat contemptuously upor
the finished sketch, when it was handed
to him for judgment; then he remarked
The ladyis better judge, and passee
it to Muriel.
She glanced at it, shook her head ane
smiled, and returned it to the sketcher
He colored little, as he asked:
well, do you like it7 Is it gooda